Russian and Turkish troops began joint patrols along the northern border of Syria today, as part of an agreement on October 22.

Soldiers from both countries began patrolling at 12 noon (16:00 Hanoi time) in a village in Al-Darbasiyah region on the Syrian-Turkey border. Officials from both countries invited reporters to witness the event.

According to Turkish military sources, a military convoy from both sides advanced east of Al-Darbasiyah to patrol the area for several dozen kilometers. The Russian military said the convoy consisted of nine vehicles, protected by an armored vehicle and could patrol an area longer than 110 km.

The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed on Twitter the same day that patrols "with land and air units were underway". The ministry added that it had planned a meeting with the Russian military delegation in Ankara to discuss "tactical and technical issues" in joint patrol activities.

Under an agreement reached by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 22, the Russian military police and the Syrian border will replace the Kurdish militia (YPG) in the 30-km-wide buffer zone. southern border in Turkey. Russian and Turkish troops will patrol the area 10 km wide in this buffer zone.

Forces in northern Syria after the agreement between Russia and Turkey. Graphics: BBC.

The deal helped end Turkey's Army's Spring of Peace campaign against Kurdish militia in northeastern Syria. However, Erdogan stated that Turkey "has the right to launch another campaign" against the Kurdish militia if it identifies any remaining Kurdish fighters in the buffer zone or if its forces are attack.

Ankara considers the YPG to be a terrorist branch of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which launched the separatist movement in Turkey in the early 1980s. However, the YPG is a close ally of the US in the war. against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) rebels.